I feel my kids are missing out on an important part of their life....?

Question

We live in a predominantely white neighborhood. The school they go to is mainly white students, staff, etc.
My son was having a hard time in school because he didn't dress like the other kids.
The school counselor suggested I buy him khakis and alligator shirts. (like hell).
Anyway, the point i'm getting at is, I want my kids to experience everything life has to offer. If my kids aren't able to be around others of different races, cultures, etc., how will my kids grow to know that we are all the same, aside from me trying to teach them that?
We are white ourselves and i don't want my kids to be uncomfortable around others. I want them to be kind and get along and have friendships. What do I do?

I myself don't know anyone except whites, but when I was growing up most of my friends were hispanic and black. I loved going to their houses and seeing the differences in the foods we eat and things of that nature.
One of my best friends was hispanic and her and her mom taught me how to make homemade tortillas.
She has since passed away. but I will always carry the knowledge of that with me.That's what I want for my kids and I don't know how give that to them.

I recently moved from a neighborhood that was a majority of hispanics. Don't tell me to put my money where my mouth is, I had to move from their because lifeflight landed on our street twice. Once for a drug deal gone wrong, and the guy got shot in the back of the head, and once because a guy lit his wife on fire.
My money has been where my mouth is honey, so talk your trash somewhere else.
I want my kids to EXPERIENCE is that okay with you?

I let my kids wear what they want. It was the school who suggested my son dress like everyone else to fit in.

Answer 1

You are so great to be thinking about this!

Volunteer at inner city clubs, shelters and such...! Very valuable experience.

This idiot Kimberly (the answer above me) obviously didn't read the entire question.

Answer 2

"I recently moved from a neighborhood that was a majority of hispanics. Don't tell me to put my money where my mouth is, I had to move from their because lifeflight landed on our street twice. Once for a drug deal gone wrong, and the guy got shot in the back of the head, and once because a guy lit his wife on fire."

THIS is why you want to live in a more culturally diverse area? Sounds to me like you're a glutton for punishment. As long as your kids are getting a good education, don't force the issue. Just try to teach them right from wrong, and leave it to them to discover other races for themselves when they "grow up" and go to college.

If you're happy in your neighborhood now, you're safe, and your kids are doing well, don't press your luck. Few kids completely "fit in" in school. It's part of peer pressure and being a kid. Be thankful that you live in an area where you feel safe to walk outside after dark.

Answer 3

If you think that kind of "diversity" is important, move to another neighborhood. It's that simple. "Put yer money where your mouth is," as we say. If you think a predominantly white neighborhood or white schools are bad things, move away. You seem to suffer from some sort of "guilt" that you're white or that you live in a white neighborhood. You have absolutely no choice in your race, and in my opinion you should NOT feel guilty that you're white, even though that's what modern liberal society would like for you to feel, because it makes it so much easier to bend you to follow their programs and fork over your taxes and donations if you're made to feel guilty. But if your guilt is such, you CAN change your environment. That's one solution.

But if you want the lesson of how we're all the same to really sink in, at his or her 18th birthday, have them enlist in the military. There, they'll have their heads shaven (if it's a guy) so they look the same, all wear the same clothes (a lovely shade of green) so they look the same, and learn to march and behave to the same standards. It's an eye-opener, believe me! I lived in a small city where I never even saw a live black person except in away sporting events, until I found myself sweating, fearing, and ultimately excelling along with others just as sweaty and scared as I was in my basic training unit. And you learn that progress depends on the individual traits you carry to the task, not the color of your skin or who your Mommy or Daddy are. Drill Sergeants don't care about those things. That realization means the world to me, even today, 20+ years later.

Answer 4

let them choose a style they like within reason. if the other kids don't like it, it'll give them something new to get used to. my neighborhood is mostly white. just let the kid grow and raise them to become a good individual. note the individual part. some parents have a hard time letting their kids find things out for themselves. you sound like a parent that wants their kids to learn. it'll all come. as long as you raise them to know that we're all people in the big picture, they should be fine.

Answer 5

To make the kids help fit in, and don't tell the clothes do not matter, they do, you do not have to go overboard, just a few cool styles

Answer 6

i think the problem is u. i went thru my middle school years not being able to wear what the rest of the kids wore. i was labeled a geek and had a hard time getting rid of it. i started buying my own clothes. i have a real problem with parents that cant remember what its like to be young. put yourself in their spot. you will find your not as cool as you think you are.

Answer 7

You could have all different kinds of friends who have kids to play with too.

Answer 8

take them on vacations to different parts of the world. take them to be around different kinds of people. the more they are around different people the more they will realize that there is nothing to be uncomfortable about.